LA KINGS PROSPECT WATCH: Throughout the summer, Frozen Royalty will be taking a look at several of the Los Angeles Kings’ young prospects. In this installment, the focus is on 2013 unrestricted free agent, right wing Scott Sabourin. Audio interviews with Sabourin and Kings assistant general manager Rob Blake are also included.

LA Kings right wing prospect Scott Sabourin getting the upper hand in a fight during Game 2 of the 2013 Rookie Tournament against the Anaheim Ducks on September 9, 2013, at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.
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Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES — Nearly one year ago, a young player, fresh out of major junior hockey in Canada, turned a lot heads during the Los Angeles Kings’ 2013 rookie camp and training camp.

During the rookie tournament that preceded training camp, this player was a standout for his all-around ability, not to mention his willingness to stand up for his teammates.

He continued to impress in pre-season games, sending a noticeable buzz through the crowd at Staples Center in Los Angeles on September 15, 2013, when he used a burst of speed and a nice move to split two defenders near the Phoenix Coyotes (now the Arizona Coyotes)’ blue line and go in on a breakaway. Even though his wrist shot missed wide left, the impression he was making grew exponentially.

LOS ANGELES — With forwards Tanner Pearson, Tyler Toffoli, and Linden Vey all up with the big club after having been recalled by the Los Angeles Kings in recent days, filling roster spots left vacant by the likes of veteran forwards Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford,Matt Greene, and Jarret Stoll, who are all out of the lineup due to injury, there has been a powerful ripple effect throughout the lineup of the Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League.

Indeed, younger, less experienced players have been thrust into roles they probably didn’t imagine themselves being in this season, let alone before the holidays, and that includes center prospect Nick Shore, who was selected by the Kings in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

The 21-year-old, 6-0, 195-pound native of Denver, Colorado began the season on the Monarchs’ third line. But now, he is their top center, at least for the time being.

LOS ANGELES — As reported on November 13, Los Angeles Kings right wing prospect Scott Sabourin made quite the impression on the Kings’ brain trust with his strong, surprising performance during rookie camp and training camp last September.

Sabourin was invited to the Kings’ training camp on a tryout basis after being signed to an American Hockey League deal by the Manchester Monarchs (Kings’ primary minor league affiliate, and for all intents and purposes, he came out of nowhere, almost literally.

LOS ANGELES — While Los Angeles Kings loyalists are collectively holding their breathe, anxiously awaiting word on the condition of superstar goaltender Jonathan Quick, who suffered an apparent lower body injury at Buffalo on Tuesday night (a 3-2 shootout loss), the rest of the hockey world has not stopped.

In fact, it has not stopped for the Kings, either, even though Quick’s condition has to be foremost on their minds. Indeed, time marches on, as does their work, which includes developing their young prospects.

Their newest prospect, right wing Scott Sabourin, was an unknown in the Kings’ Rookie Camp, Rookie Tournament, Training Camp and pre-season games. But he quickly surprised everyone right from the start, displaying skating ability and puck skills that no one expected.

LOS ANGELES — Just as the Los Angeles Kings were closing up shop on their 2013 Training Camp, and as the 2013-14 season was about to get underway, they acquired a new, young left wing prospect—a power forward with a scoring touch.

That player just might have a chance to become a top six forward for the Kings somewhere down the road. But the best part is that they did not have to give up anything to get him.

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